Introduction: Sometimes you can find an example or illustration from places you wouldn’t normally expect. Such an instance happened to me recently, Here’s the verse that came to mind when I saw what took place:
Text: John 16:13, KJV: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Our oldest grandson is in sixth grade as I write this (December 2024) and is enrolled in his school’s band. Currently he’s playing percussion, including the snare drum and the xylophone. Recently his school put on a Christmas concert (of course called a “holiday” concert for the politically correct) and of course grandpa was greatly impressed!
Now, he needed no help at all—he’s able to read the music and translate it into good sounding stuff, as intended, and as the teacher hoped, I’m sure! Even so, there was one other band member who seemed to be struggling with what seemed to be a difficult piece of music.
This student seemed to be lost and from where I was sitting had a very confused, almost a “where am I supposed to be?” facial expression. I can relate to this, as admittedly some music is hard for experts to play without lots and lots of practice—one reason I never decided to take up any instruments seriously. Foe me, practice was the driving factor between the two.
Then one of the teachers came by. How this teacher knew the student was having trouble is something I can’t explain—this teacher was standing behind the student. Maybe, and I don’t recall, the student wasn’t striking the keys properly but at any rate, the teacher came by, pointed to where the student should be on the sheet music, then departed. No drama, no scolding, just a “there’s where you need to be. Go for it!” kind of encouragement.
And, it worked!
The Holy Spirit acts in the same way, doesn’t He? The Lord Jesus Christ promised that He, the Holy Spirit, would guide us into all truth. There are times we may be confused over a verse or passage of Scripture. Sometimes we may hear something in a lesson or sermon that just doesn’t sound quite right. Or, maybe we’re just not sure where we are (that’s happened to me a time or two, if I may add).
No worries, fellow believers. It’s when we ask for help, or just plain don’t know how to ask, that the Holy Spirit comes and gives us exactly what we need. He may point us to other Scriptures or other resources to find answers. He may give us wisdom to see what was wheat or chaff in something we heard or read. And there are times He simply encourages us, too.
Remember that promise: just like a teacher, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth!
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)